Subgrade finishing machine



4 Sheets-Sheet l J. E, WIGHT SUBGRADE FINISHING MACHINE Filed May 23. 1929 Z9 JZ v 29a Q0 I ,e a 25% 1 E. 49T E Nov. 24, 1931.

Nw. 24, 1931. q. E. WIGHT v1,833,546

SUBGRADE FINISHING MACHINE Filed May 23, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheei'- 2 INVENTOR.

256 JE. w91? z.

///,"/' l l/r/ ATTORNEYS J. E. WIGHT SUBGRADE FINISHING MACHINE Filed May 25. 1929 @y 'Z8/P37;

Nov. A24, 1931.

Nov. 24, 1931. .1. E. wlGHT 1,833,546

SUBGRADE FINISHING MACHINE Filed May 23, 1929 4 Sheets-Shea? 4 /a/ INVENToR.

E Wight.

A TTRNEYS` Patented Nov. 24, 1931 uniran`STMES Jon n. WIGHT, or EAST SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, assIGNOR 'ro Konan-ING COMPANY, F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION PATENT caricia sUBGB-ADE rINIsHING MACHINE `Application filed May 23, 1929. Serial No. 365,348.

, i, Machines have been devised for uniformly grading .adaptation to the various conditions met with roadways aiming tok facilitate in practice', and a number of such are on the market, These machines are usually pro* videdwithscraper blades supported by car- .,rying means and may be adjusted to various angles wit-hithe ground for producing the proper transverse grade. In the dumping of the dirt accumulated in front of the Vscraper in the movement by the machine Alongitudinally of the road, the scraper must be laboriously raised vertically with respect to the supporting frame or 'the dirt must otherwise be disposed of.V

ln certain t )es of machines the scra in@- v Z3 operation mustcease while the dirt is shovel'ed lfrom infront of the scraper with a consequent material loss 0f time. An object of. theV invention is to overcome this difficulty in a: `simple and' effective manner.

Q Simplicity and mobility, both as to conv simplify struction and Operation, is a prime desideratum in machines of thischaracter and it is a further object of the presentinvention to subg-rading machines particulars.

1in mind cl'l'ectivcnes operation, and convenience of transporting n pursuance of these objects and bearing of thesdevice when in the same from one locality to another, I have ,contrived a machine lalong the following lines, economical of construction and durable under the stresses to which it is likely to be subjected.

The machine comprises a support for the scrfpcr which latter is preferably made in sect-ions each individually adjustable relative tothe support. jvThe support may be in i the nature ofa beam of wooddesigned to eX- tend transversely of the roadway when the 'machine is in use. Thisrbeam is provided at its' ends with supporting yolres adjustable relatively thereto and carrying at their lower ends, shoes which slide upon the head boards vor road forms at the sides of the roadbed, as

the machine progresses valongthe said roadbed. A trailingr board or drag for maintaining the machine in scraping relation to the roadbed7 as the machine is drawn along, is

in these provided extending rearwardly from the beam to which it is attached and resting at its rear end upon the ground.

A feature in the construction of my invention and consituting one of the important, if not the most important contribution to its successful operation is one by which the peculiar construction of the device is adapted to deposit diit accumulated in front of the scraper at intervals along the road bed without interference with the process of the scraping operation. l accomplish this by means which may be brought into play at suitable intervals and which will act incident to the draught of thc machine along` the roadway. These means` constitute elements which are adapted to Contact with surfaces alongrthe roadway and will by a cam movement cause the road dressing means to ride over theac- Cumulated dirt. The feature of the machine illustrative of this principle and by which this is made possible is in the nature of two cam members rotatably mounted by means of trunnions, one at each end of the beam referred to above which are adapted to contact with the vground raising the .scrapers to a position in which they can readily pass over kthe accumulated dirt. The dirt so deposited convenience'its transportation from one locality to another, lies in the peculiar mountiner thereon of'wheelswhereby the saine may readily be mobilized for use or turned to an inactive position and in onerendering them incapable of interfering with the operation of the Scrapers. Thisis accomplished by mounting the wheels on, a, crank aXle which is secured centrally of the beam in a transverse position relative thereto and by providing a lever arm connectedA to the axle which, when turned in one position, will lower the wheels lto contact with the ground and elevate the scrapers out oi contacttherewith, and which when turned to anotherposit-ion will conversely raise the wheels and permit the scraper to assume operative position.

The above, with other features which will c of my invention and showing the transport ying wheels in contact with the road bed wi'tl Y in'g'the cani members in Contact with the ground and the frame and scraper blades ele-l the consequent elevation ofthe scraper blades. Figure 2 is a View similar to Figure 1 showing the wheels in inoperative posit-ion and they scraper blades'lowered into contact with the road bed and the shoes in' contact with the head boards at the sides ot the road bed. Y

' Figurel is a side view of a machine show-v ing the transporting wheels in operative position and the scrapingmechanism elevated from the ground. 'f

Figure l is a View similar to Figure 2 showing a ridge of dirt accumulated in front oi 'the'scraper blade prior tothe dumping of `rthesame.V i

Figure 5 is a side elevation vof a machine as shown in Figure il.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure d showvated to pass over the ridge of dirt accumulated in front thereof. v

Figure 7 is a rear view'of the machine shov\7` 'ing the scraper-bladesfin contact with the road bed and thecammembers elevated.

vrFigure 8 is a top plan view of the machine showing from this angle the relation of the parts. Y

Figure 9vis a section transversely through the machine and showing one of the lcams in v one phase of'its operation in carrying the scraper blades over the accumulated ridge of dirt.A

` :vFigurelO is a perspective detail view of one'ot` the scraper blades.

Figure 11 is a view in sidel elevation 'show- 'ing apmodiiication'of niyinvention.

Figure12 is aperspective view ot one of the cams showing cleats on the peripheral surface lthereof.`

Figure 13de a sectionalview''talrenl about on the line 13-13 of Figure 11;

Figure 14 is a plan vview of the modification shown iny Figure v11.

'i u Figure 15 is a sectional' view taken through one ofthe shoe carrying yolres, and

Figure 16jis a detail vview lshowing'the manner of mounting the cam trunnions.V

. Lesase The present embodiment as illustrated in theabove iigures is to be considered as illustrative of one form which my invention may assume within the principles herein `laid down and is not to be considered as in any way limiting the construction thereof to the A'specific form or details herein disclosedY except as I shall be limited by the claims appended hereto. Y In describing myinvention in detail with reference to the'drawings, the Vsame numerals will designate the same parts in all figures of the drawings in which 10 designates a beam which may. be of wood or any other suitable materials, and which is intended to lextend transversely across the road bed upon 'whichthe scraping elements are to be employed. rIVhe beam is provided adjacent its ends with substantially U shaped yoke members 11, having forwardly and rearwardly'extending flanges 12 and 13 extending at right angles thereto and designed ,to carry traction 'shoes 14.- thereupon.A The yoke members are mounted upon the beam and have vertically slidable connection therewith and are provided inthc leg of the U member with elongated slots 15 through which bolts 16 passing through the beam, project. Adjustment of the shoes 14 relative to the beam is accomp-lished through'screw members 17 threadedyly'connected with the arch 18 of the vyoke and having hand wheels 19 secured at their upper vends. and grooves at their lower ends adapted to engage bearing plates 2O secured to the top surface of the beam. The ends yoi the beain Aiay have brackets 10a" aiixedl theretov as shown in Figure 16, to form Abearings for trunnions87. y

.This construction'permits of the adjust- 'ment oi the blades to various depths inthe.

roadbed. These blades, which are designated by the numerals 21, 22, 23 and 2-1, are made iii-two parts as clearlyshcwnin `Figure 10. Upper or main supporting parts 25, have f scrapingelements 26 secured to the lower portionrthereot and extending downwardly therefrom. The upperparts 25 have elonlgated slots 27 formed therein which receive bolts 28. These'bolts 28 pass througlithe beam 10, andthe slots'27 permit verticaladj ustment-ot the blades in respect to the beam.

. Eyebolts 29. securedfjto the beam, cooperate Ywith bolts' andnuts 29a, aiixed tothe blades to effect-thefvertical adjustment of the blades i in respect to the beam 10. f By means of this arrangement and by forming the scraping member ot a plurality of 'scraping blades as ierein set forth, it will appear that .the blades may-be adjusted relative to each other so as to produce in the crown of the roadway any desired transverse curvature that conditions to be'metrmay dictate. Adjustment is lalso possible':relativeto the. beam itself lor'any purpose and as may be desired within the mechanical limitations of the construction as set i forth above. The shoes 14, Vas will appear from: the drawings, are of but slightly greater length than the width of the beamand will therefore afford` a small supporting surface with the side such a relationship the machine `will tend to turn over forwardly when a pull is exerted by traction means upon the beam. In order to effect/.stability I provide a trailer member which may be comprised of timbers 31 and I3Q-secured at their forward ends to the beam'lO and converging-rearwardly as shown Y in Figure 8, the rear ends being preferably -connected by a cross member 33, and having v.secured thereto a hand grip 34, in the nature of a U-shaped bar as clearly-illustrated in `Figure 7. The beam 10 is provided with a pair of eye-bolts suitably spaced on either side of the center of the machine to which may beY attached cables 36 which may be secured at their free ends to a tractor or the like, not shown, and by means of which the Y scraper mechanism may be drawn along the beam '10 trunn-ions 37 upon which are eccenrisov tially circular in shape.

trically mounted cam shaped traction members 38. The cam shaped members being of the;- same construction, only one need be described in detail. e

The cam shaped member consists of a web V39 having a marginaltreadf in the nature of a rimV 40wh-ich is flat as at 41 between certain limits asdesignated by the numerals 42 and 43; 'and is curved throughoutthe remainder of its extent, curvature beginning at the limit 42 which may be considered the forward end `of the portion 41, and is gradual and substan- This portion lies Valso substantially concentric with the hub .44

Hand is 4provi-ded with'transverse cleats 45 vwhich aidin the turning movement thereof as will hereinafter appear, The curve of the flange is then somewhat flattened and slopes rearwardly toits juncture with the flat portion 41 between the! limits 46 and 43, the curvature between these limits growing increasin'gly eccentricfwithf relation to the hub 44, reaching its limit of eccentricity at its juncture 43 with the flat surface 41. The webs 39 are provided with slots 48 forwardly of *theI hubs 44 and latchinv members 49 are provided which are pivotally secured to the yoke members 11v as at 50, which may be swung to position for entering the slots 4S and holding the cam shaped members in inoperativek position as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, with the flat portion of the rim or'tread 41 lowermost.

Vhen a suiicient amount of dirt has accumulatedA in front of the scraper blades and 'f itis desired to relieve the blades of this accumulation, the latch members 49 are removed from the slots 48 of the cam members 38 permitting them to pivot around the trunnions 37.

As the cleats 45 contact with the ground at the sides of the road bed, the cam shaped' members will start rotating in a counterv.clockwise direction, viewed from the left side of the machine, and when they have rotated to a position where the portion 47 thereof isy in contact with the ground, the scraper blades will have been raised to positionJto pass over the ridge of accumulated dirt, as shown in Figure 9 of the drawings. When the Scrapers have passed over the ridge, the machine will be loweredto scrapving position again by the cam members whichl permit the machine t'o be lowered gradually to its former position with the shoes 14 engaging the road rails. IVhen it has again reached operative position for scraping, the cam shaped members are again latched in their inoperative position and the scraping operation may be' continued without interruption. The ridge of dirt left behind may be removed from the road bed by a scoop or in any other manner as may be 4 desired.

n In transporting machines of this character from one locality to another, it is not infrequently the custom to load the same on trucks which necessitates the unloading thereof at the next location of operation. I propose to facilitate the transporting of my device from one locality to another without the necessity of loading and unloading the' same upon a truck, by providing transportation meansin connection with thescraper itself. Means of this character is shown in the drawings which comprises vwheels 51 rotatably mounted on acrank axle 52 which is 3Q Yas described above, the'fbeain l0 may becon'- thereof witha pulley which may be secured. to the -beam 10 as .by a ring. 6l. 'Sewhich' maybe Vconnected therewith through the .instrumentality of a pulley 62, the cable beingtrained about the sheaves ofthe pulleys ffor facilitating theV drawing. of the wheels 52 to' position to'supportthemachine kelevated'ab'ove thegrouud. The free end .of

'thecable-may be eitherjpulley by thehands Y to effect .this movement or may be secured to a tractor or other'power' means; f-

From -the above description it'will appear 'that Ilhavefprodu'ced a mechanism adjustable? to* various conditions for scraping -a roadffbedland which-will vdeposit the accumu- 'lateddirtljatintervals valong lthe road bed iwitl'i'outlimpe'ding7 the-*scraping @operation land without the'necessity' of: stopping the machine. I-have also provided for vvthe "ready de'inobilization of the machine vas a lscraping#unitand 'the'. instant mobilization of" transportation facilities therefor: When theAA transportationV 1 facilities are*` mobilized,

nected'endwise to a tractor or other'means,

@and the machineY is ready fortransportation fromA one location to another. ItA wi-llbe noted further'that these advantages are accomplished inmy machine in a verysimple manner-and lwit-hout complicating the mech- 1 ani'smi i* y -jl'n l*Figur-es 11, 13 vand 14,1 have showna ym'( diiication,qwherein'the beamlO replacedby 'a built-up beam vcomprising' channel -inembers `63,` laced together by "braces 64. The yolres ll, arepsupported by asimilar structure' 655 .which telescopes into the beam 'formed by-the channel members lland 63, vr'thereby permitting 4adjustment''ofthe inachine for different widths of roads. A plate qsecured tothe members 63'is availed of forcarrying the scraper .blades in the manner yhe'r'eirfibefore set forth. In: this construction; the trunnions 37 may tale 'the l form 'of a 'single axle extending throughout Athe length offthel beam`4 vas shown ato?.

f when the, latches 49 are nasa out vof en- "tical walls thereof 'as te gravatar@ ini-.Oibe

lslots 4.8 ."after one complete lfrevolution'of lthefcamVK members, thereby Y,automatically vlocking them. inA inoperative position. Dur- =be availedof for lifting the members 3l and V321 thereby. allowing the .accumulated dirt -to npassfftherebeneathL n Y- f Having thu-s vdescribed, my 'inventiom what i abeam, means: at .the ends thereofto rfacili- -tate progressi thereof. along xed-altr'acks, al

'scraper member on said beam andicam. like members rotatably securedto theiends of. the

cured to 'the end ofthe bar y58 isalcable 59 surface,- the curved surface merging 'gradubeam-having peripherally, a. flat and acurved ally at one-end with the flat'surfaceand con- V.neet-ing. abruptly therewith at theother end,

named connection with'the flatfsurfacepslots lmove over a" subgrade, a .frame7 scraper Vvdevicethereon, supporting means-for the frame, said means including. shoes adapted .to normally slide aloiigthe vsurface of head with the head boards and attlie same time '90 supporting saidA frame' undercertain conditions7 the means being arranged-to reposie tion the shoes uponthe head boa'ids'upon vcompletion lof the lifting operation w8.' In a road scraping macliineadapted to'-V niove over a subgrade, a frame, a scraper ldevice thereom. supporting means for the fi'aiiie,'saidniean's including shoes adapted to normally VVslide along the surface 'of head boards at. each'side' ofthe subgrade, and' means for liftingy said shoes :outof contact -with the head boards and at the same time .supporting saidframe under certain conditionst the'slide 'surfaces "of said shoes normally .K depending below Vsaid last-namedk 'to normally slide' along-'thefsurface ofthe head boards'V atV `each side of the .subgradef andmeans foriiiovin't;v said 'shoes' out off contact with head 'boards an'd'at the :Sametime supporting.; said" fraine'under certain conditions, the slide surfaces of said shoes norinallyr 'depending below f said last named means and extending" above the'same during said certain conditions, the i saidvv means 'for moving the shoes being" also adapted toautomatically'replace the shoes upon the head Y 'boards after the moving operation. `V vingthisdiimping action, the handle 34, may

` In'a. road scraping machineadapted to movelover a subgrade-,rfa frameyfascraper device thereon, supporting vmeans for .the

boards at each side of the subgrade, means tor moving said shoes out of contact with head boards and at the same time support ing said frame under certain conditions, and instrumentalities for adjusting the height of the frame from the road, the said means being adapted to travel along the outside et the head boards Yand to automatically replace the slices in traveling position upon the head boards upon completion of the lifting operation.

6. In a road scraping machine adapted to move over a subgrade, a frame, a scraper dcvice thereon, supporting means for the frame, said means including slices adapted to normally slide along the surface of head boards at each side of' the subgrade, and means for lifting said shoes out of contact with the head boards at the same time supporting said frame under certain conditions, said shoes being disposed inwardly of said last named means, the said means being adapted to travel along the outside of the head boards and to automatically replace the shoes in f traveling position upon the head boards upon completion of the lifting operation.

7. In a road scraping machine adapted to move over a subgrade, a frame, scraper device thereon, supporting means for the frame, said means including shoes adapted to normally slide along the surface ot' head boards at each side of the subgrade, and means for lifting said shoes out oi lcontact with the subgrade and at the saine time supporting said frame under certain conditions,

ysaid last named means having ground grip ping portions, and being movable at will into operative and inoperative positions and extending beyond the head boards, the said means automatically replacing the shoes in traveling position upon the head boards upon completion of the lifting operation.

8. In a road subgrade treating machine, a frame, subgrade treating instrumentalities carried by the frame, supporting means for the frame, the said means including traction shoes adapted to normally slide along the surface of head boards at each side of the subgrade, and means movable into and out of ground engaging positions eXteriorly of the head boards to correspondingly move the traction shoes out of and into engagement with the head boards, the said movable means supporting the frame When in ground engaging positon and automatically placing the traction shoes into traveling position upon the head boards when moved out of ground engaging position.

9. In a road scraping machine adapted to move over a subgrade, a frame, a scraper device thereon and comprising a. hollovs7 beam formed of cooperating channel members, a member telescoping into each end of the beam for adjusting the Widths of the machine to the Width of a given subgrade, the telescoping member carrying supporting means for the frame which means include traction shoes adapted to normally slide along the surface of head boards at each side of the subgrade, and rotative means movable into and out of ground engaging positions eXteriorly of the headboards to correspondingly move the traction shoes into and out of engagement with the head boards, the said rotative means supporting the frame When in ground engaging position and being positioned outside of the head boards so as to automatically position the traction shoes in traveling position upon the head boards when moved out of ground engaging position.

lO. In a road scraping machine adapted to move over a subgrade, a frame, a scraper device thereon anc comprising a. beam, means inovably carried by the beam for adjusting the Width ot the machine to the Width of a given subgrade, the said movable means carrying frame supporting members including traction shoes adapted to normally slide along the surface of head boards at each side or' the subgrade and rotative means movable into and out of ground engaging positions exteriorly of the head boards to correspondingly bring the traction shoes into and out of engagement With the head boards, the r0- tative means supporting the frame when in ground engaging position with respect to the head boards to automatically position the traction shoes in traveling position upon the head boards when the rotative means are moved out of ground engaging position.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

J OE E. WIGHT. 

